Overview

3M's rich heritage in the mining industry dating back to 1902 is reflected in its Industrial Mineral Products Division, a leading supplier of roofing granules within the asphalt shingle and stone coated metal roofing market. 3M roofing granules are more than mere rocks. It takes mining engineers, civil engineers, geologists and 3M's long history and deep experience in the mining industry to identify the appropriate location and extraction methods to uncover the source mineral used in roofing granules at each of our four locations across the country. And not just any rock will do. 3M granules are sourced from four plants spread across the nation.

At 3M, we grow our value to customers by tapping into a variety of specialized disciplines and technologies to innovate and evolve the business of roofing granules. It's our unique advancements in processing and coating techniques that allow us to improve the performance characteristics and durability of our granules. These technological advancements have led to the development of products such as 3M™ Copper Roofing Granules that help reduce the black streaks caused by algae on roofs, as well as 3M™ Cool Roofing Granules that enhance shingle reflectivity to deliver ratings specified by building codes or ENERGY STAR® for reflectance requirements. The innovative nature of 3M granules allow shingle manufacturers to create beautiful, high quality shingles that anyone would be proud to have installed on their home or business.

Products & Resources

3M offers three distinct types of granules, Classic, Cool and Copper. The innovative nature of 3M granules allow shingle manufacturers to create beautiful, high quality shingles that anyone would be proud to have installed on their home or business.

3M has a rich history in manufacturing and mining, starting in 1902. It’s our deep roots and knowledge of manufacturing that allow us to harness our resources to create high quality products. 3M granules are sourced from four plants spread across the nation. In order to better understand these products, we have a product selector to make your decision and research simple and easy.

Need Help Finding the Right Product?

Need help finding the right product for your home? We’ve got you covered. Use the 3M granule product selector to answer a few questions about your roof's needs so that we can steer you in the direction of products that would work best for your new roof. Live in a warm sunny climate? We’ve got you covered. Replacing your old roof for the first time in 20 years? We’ve got the products for you. Have no idea what you’re looking for? We can help with that as well.

New Products/Features

According to the Heat Island Group, roofs and pavement make up about 60 percent of urban surfaces in some U.S. cities. In some cities, this can cause the temperatures to heat up an extra 3 or 4 degrees.

A recent article featured 3M™ Cool granules as the new solution to help roofs beat the heat by decreasing the effects of urban heating while also being economically friendly. According to Frank Klink, a 3M laboratory manager, a roof’s ability to reflect light can help reduce both the temperature and the amount of energy it takes to run an air conditioner, cutting down on local energy consumption and the need for fossil fuels. In states like California, where power grids are often over worked on hot days, the reduction in energy consumption created by 3M Cool Granules is crucial.

Initially, the technology for cool granules was used on military hardware, like aircrafts and armor, to make them less visible. 3M’s product development team took this technology and transformed it into a wide range of colorful solar reflective roofing granule options. These granules reflect more of the sunlight back up to the sky, so that less goes into heating the roof. As this market continues to grow, Frank expects to see growth internationally, especially in tropical areas of the world.

Scotchgard™ Protector for Roofing

There is no denying what effect the passage of time will have on your home. Replacing a roof is a considerable investment in both time and money. One way to help mitigate this investment is by using shingles featuring Scotchgard™ Protector to help prevent black streaks caused by algae.

The technology and potential behind Scotchgard™ Protector was discovered by an accidental spill in the labs of 3M. Several decades later, the Scotchgard brand was born, encompassing multiple products that repel water and block stains on fabrics, furniture, carpet, and even cars. For roofing granules, the Scotchgard Protector Shingle System using 3MTM Copper Granules helps prevent black streaks caused by algae growth and keep your roof looking as beautiful and colorful as the day you bought your house.

Select manufacturers across the country produce shingles featuring Scotchgard Protector for certain algae resistant shingles. By meeting the minimum of 10% copper-containing granules distributed uniformly across the shingle surface, these shingles help protect against black streaks. Choosing which shingles to buy for your roof can be challenging. By choosing shingles featuring Scotchgard Protector you’re not just buying a product, you’re buying a brand promise to protect your shingles against black streaks for 20 years!